Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced that the Ministry of National Defense will assume exclusive responsibility for the protection and maintenance of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens.
The decision, to be formalized through legislative regulation next week, aims to preserve the monument’s symbolic character as a site of national remembrance.
“This is a monument created to honor the heroes who gave their lives for freedom. It belongs to historical memory,” Mr. Mitsotakis said, emphasizing that it should not be used for unrelated events.
The move follows a public debate sparked by the 23-day hunger strike of Mr. Panos Ruci, father of a victim of the Tempi train crash, who camped near the tomb to demand the exhumation of his son’s body for forensic testing.
The area became a gathering point for mourners and supporters, raising concerns about the use of the site.
Mr. Mitsotakis stressed that citizens remain free to demonstrate in numerous other public spaces. “Can a historic monument such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier become a venue for events unrelated to its purpose? My answer is no,” he said.
While the Ministry of National Defense will manage the monument’s upkeep, law enforcement and security duties will remain with the Hellenic Police.
The announcement was part of Mr. Mitsotakis’s weekly review, in which he also highlighted Greece’s economic progress, including projected growth, declining unemployment, and reduced public debt.